Both teams have had an upturn in fortunes since the arrival of Arab billionaire owners, and the Frenchman says that he does not want to see foreign investment in the game, but conceded that he is powerless to stop it.

"I am not in favour of globalisation, but legally I cannot do anything," he told Ouest France.

"I cannot allow myself, in a free world, to question the origins of owners, even if I hate that clubs fall into the hands of foreign money, because, for me, the identity of a club is their region and fans."

The former French captain also added that he believes fellow Blues legend, Zinedine Zidane woud prove to be a good for the national side.

"Someone who has the aura of Zidane can be a coach. One day, if the president of the [French Football] Federation thinks that he is the right person to go up there, and if he has good players, he would be a good coach for France."